Vapor cigar lighter



Oct. 23, 1.928.

E. F. CLARK VAPOR CIGAR LIGHTER Filed April 25, 1927 /wfA/ron Z/wam! /sier Zar/ Patented O ct. 23, 1928.

UNITED STATESy 1,688,485 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD FOSTER CLARK, OF NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, :BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CLARK LIGHTER CO., INC., OF NORTH ATTLEBORO, MAS- SACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

VAPOR CIGAR LIGHTER.

Application mea April 23, 1927. seriai No. 186,120.

My invention is a flint-spark vapor cigar lighter, in which a novel spark wheell element is provided and in which a wind break is provided to render use of the device for lighting purposes, easy and sure, without regard to the wind which may prevail at any time.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my cigar lighter, of a suitable size for actual use;

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 are upon an enlarged scale;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the upper end of the lighter, on line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2, some of the covered elements being indicated in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation on line 4 4 of Figure 3 ;v

Figure 5 is a detail of the spark wheel.

My invention will be described and illust-rated in connection with United States Patent No. 1,594,047. In that patent and this specification is shown a fuel container 1, for a volatile liquid fuel, such as gasoline or alcohol, or the like. Upon the upper end of this container the operative mechanism is mounted, consisting of standard 4, upon the upper end of which is carried, parallel to the upper surface of the container, a spark tube 41, having at one end an abutment 45 for a coiledv spring within the spark tube and at the other a spark wheel shaft 52 mounted upon a pivot 5 perpendicular to the upper surface of fuel chamber 1. The shaft 52 also carries a thumb wheel 51.

In my present device I mount the spark wheel upon a pivot pin or bearing 5 which is secured perpendicular to the upper surface of the fuel chamber 1. Preferably the-pivot pin is set within a pivot tube 53 projecting downward into the chamber 1 and closed at its inner end. IVithin this tube is set the pivot 5, which projects above the top of the chamber and upon this projecting end is mounted the spark wheel shaft 52 and on the shaft52 the actuating thumb wheel 51. When the parts are assembled, as shown in Figure 4, the upper end of spark wheel shaft 52 is closed by a screw threaded-plug 52a to prevent the escape of the pivot 5. The above organization of sparking elements is preferred to other organizations.

Another feature of my improved lighter is a Wind break which preferably encloses the spark wheel and wick tube upon three sides 9, 91, and is provided with a shield or cover 10 which closes the top of the enclosure, when the lighter is not in use and which is erected when the lighter is to be used (see Fig. 2). The sides 9 of the wind break are parallel to the sides of the fuel chamber 1, the end wall 91 is preferably slanted as shown. The top 10 preferably carries depending flanges or sides 11 and is hinged at 12 between the upwardly extending shoulders 121 of the spring tube 122. The free end of the side walls 9 is curved inwardly at 92. These various preferred features described above, have a valuable efl'ect in controlling air movements to give as little disturbance as may be to the air contained within the walls 9, 91, to the end that the flame may be as nearly unaffected by the air movements as possible.`

The cover 10 with its flanges 11 maybe erected as shown in Figure 2, in dotted lines, when the lighter is to be used for pipes or cigars, and carries upon its under side a snufer 10'CL designed to cover and enclose the wick, 13, which projects out of the wick tube 14 and this wick tube carries upon its upper end a perforated plateau or disk 15, surrounding the Wick, and frictionally engaging it, with which the open end of the snulfer 10a engages and seats itself, to form an enclosed chamber forthe projecting end of Wick 13, the wick preventing lateral and upward movement of the plateau and the wick tube supporting it.

The cover 10 is pivoted at 12 between the upwardly extending shoulders 121 of a tubular spring container 122 which isslotted at lts upper end to form the shoulders 121 and is closed at its lower end, the spring 126 yieldingly pressing upward a plunger 123 to cooperate with squared surfaces 124 of the hinge element 125 of the cover 10. By this means the cover 10 is held in horizontal or vertical positions as desired, or in an intermediate position, as indicated in Figure 2.

Assembly of the mechanism of my 1mproved lighter is simple: the wick tube 14 1s secured in place about a perforation in the top of the container 1, and the standard 4 fastenedv in position. The spark tube 41 1S then secured on the standard 4. The spring container 122 is placed and secured and the spring 126 and plunger 123 are placed in position. The walls 9, 91 are placed in position and secured, the abutment 45 being removed from tube41 to permit the wall 91 to pass over the rear end of 41. The lid is then pivoted between the shoulders 121 of the spring container 122. The flats 124 of the hub of lid 10 are formed to give a vertical and an intermediate position to the lid, as

A indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. The

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wall 9, adjacent the thumb wheel 51 is recessed, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, to permit the wheel to pass beneath the wall' and the upper surface of the container 1. The thumb wheel 51 is secured to the hollow shaft which carries the spark Wheel 52 and the thumb wheel passed through the wall slot with the hollow of the shaft over the upper open endof the pivot tube 53 and the pivot 5 dropped into place and the upper end of the hollow shaft closed by the screw plug 52ZL to prevent longitudinaly movement of the pivot 5. This is a convenient arrangement, since, from time to time, the sparkvwheel may require replacement or cleaning and in this manner may be moved and replaced by withdrawing the pivot pin 5. The plateau 15 is engaged with the wick 13 and the wick passed through the wick tube 14, for which it is an easy fit thus ensuring free capillary action of the wick. The plateau positions the wick and is itself positioned by the wick 13, the plateau forming the seat for the extinguisher 10a and u with the extinguisher a closed chamber for the upper end of the wick. v

The front or thumb-Wheel end of the walls is open and, when the lid 10 is raised to intermediate position ample room is provided for applying the flame to a cigar, while, with the lid 10 in vertical position, the flame may be conveniently applied to a'pipe. The intermediate position is preferable when the device is used in a strong breeze, as the space enclosed by the walls 9, 91 and cover 10 is more effectively enclosed and air currents excluded. By tilting the lighter, during the lighting operation, until `the cover 10, in intermediate position, is nearly horizontal, an almost complete wind protection is afforded'.

I claim:

1. In a vapor cigar lighter, a fuel container; a spark wheel assembly, consisting of a hollow spark wheel shaft, perpendicularly to the upper end of the fuel container; a bearing tube Within the container and in line with the` hollow shaft; a loose p ivot within the hollow of the shaft and tube; a spark Wheel at the free end of the shaft; a thumb wheel on the shaft adjacent the bearing endthereof; means to restrain the perpendicular movement of the shaft.

2. In a vapor cigar lighter, a fuel container; a wick and wick holder mounted upon the top end of the container; sparking means adjacent the wick; wind break side walls and one end wall mounted upon the top end of the container and enclosing the flame elements on three sides; a wind break pivoted on the end wall to shield the open top of the enclosure. j

3. In a vapor cigar lighter, a fuel container; a wick and wick holder mounted upon the top end of the container; spark elements adjacent the wick; wind break side walls and one end wall mounted upon the top end of the container and enclosing the spark elements and wick on three sides; means, without the walls, for operating the spark elements; a wind break pivoted at the end wall, to shield the open top of the enclosure.

4. In a vapor cigar lighter, a fuel container; a wick and wick holder mounted upon the top end ofthe container; spark elements adjacent the wick; wind break side walls and one end wall mounted upon the top end of the container and enclosing the spark elements and wick on three sides; a thumb wheel projecting without the walls, for operating the spark elements; an adjustable wind break pivoted at the end wall, to shield the open top of the enclosure.

5. In avapor cigar lighter, a fuel contain- Signed at Boston, Massachusetts, this twenty-first day of April, 1927.v V

EDWARD FOSTER CLARK. 

